to toast their 50th wedding anniversary they decided to make it a family affair.

So their three grown-up children and respective spouses flew in to join them from Alaska, Dallas, and Maryland.

And just to complete the 16-strong family gathering their eight grand-children came along as well.

"Knowing that we have come here for years, our children decided this would be the perfect place to celebrate our big event,'' Hazel, 72, told The Royal Gazette yesterday.

"They have all been here before but not all together. We planned this vacation a year ahead.

"All the grand-children had to give up one of their usual summer activities to be able to come.'' There is one minor flaw in the happy affair...the real date for the couple's anniversary is August 1.

But with all the difficulties in arranging such a get-together absolute perfection proved impossible.

But the couple are planning a second anniversary celebration on the proper date -- in New York where they spent their honeymoon.

Seventy-three-year-old Charles and Hazel, from Silver Springs, Maryland, have holidayed in Bermuda every other year since 1952.

The couple, who arrived two weeks ago, claim they still get goose bumps each time they land.

And each visit leaves them a little happier.

Hazel recalled how they arrived at St. George's on a cruise ship during their first visit to the Island.

"We took a cab ride around the Island and the driver told us that if we were to come back on another visit we might enjoy staying in a cottage colony.

"When we returned to the Island a few years later we stayed at what was then called the "Sand Song''.

"When we came back on our third visit, we stayed at Marley Beach and every time after that, that is where we stayed.'' Hazel said she and her husband, a retired chartered accountant, later bought two Marley Beach cottages.

"When we are not here they are leased. Since then we have added a pool and two other cottages.

But has Bermuda changed since that first visit? Not as much as the rest of the world, they both agree.

"It has been upgraded and is still very clean,'' said Charles.

FAMILY SNAPSHOT -- Golden wedding couple Charles and Hazel Gastrock, second row from the top, were joined by 13 members of their family in Bermuda yesterday for their 50th anniversary.